Brattleboro Recreation and Parks Department Annual Egg Hunt

The Brattleboro Recreation and Parks Department is excited to announce that on Saturday, March 30th, 2024, they will be offering their Annual FREE Egg Hunt!

Each egg hunt will start promptly at the times listed below. There will be 6 stuffed animal prizes for each age group. Each child needs to have a basket or container to collect the eggs. 


Lunar New Year of China, Vietnam, and Korea

Asian Cultural Center of Vermont (ACCVT) celebrates the Lunar New Year Festival of China, Korea and Vietnam Saturday, February 10th, 1-3pm. You don’t have to be Asian or know anything about Asia to participate! Join us at the Brattleboro Museum and Art Center to usher in the year of the Green Wood Dragon. With this rare combination of the Dragon’s power and Wood’s creativity, 2024 brings a year of innovation, vision and growth. The Wood Dragon year promises to be dynamic and unpredictable.

We will start our celebration with a potluck: bring a dish to share. Then join us for traditional Chinese Dance with Nan Jiang Hyde, group Taiji and Qigong, Korean Tug-of-War, and New Year crafts featuring make-your-own dragon puppets. We end our celebration with a Dragon parade from the Museum up Main Street to bring us luck for the coming year. Don’t miss the chance to dance with the 30-foot dragon. This extraordinary dragon was created by an accomplished Vietnamese craftsman.


Lunar New Year of China, Vietnam, and Korea

Asian Cultural Center of Vermont (ACCVT) presents the 23nd annual Mid-Autumn Moon Festival (Zhongqiu Jie) which is celebrated in China, Korea, Vietnam and other places around the world. Celebrate the Autumn Moon Festival with crafts, songs, food, taiji, paper lanterns, Chinese exercises, the Korean rope tug and more. Hear the story of The Goddess of the Moon, Chang’e; the great archer Hou-Yi; and the Elixir of Immortality. Then watch the harvest moon rise. The celebration will start with a pot-luck (bring a dish to share).


New Director of Youth Programs Hired at Youth Services

Brattleboro, VT — Megan Grove is the new Director of Youth Programs at Youth Services which has offices in Brattleboro and Bellows Falls, Vermont. This position provides department oversight regarding an array of programs that relate to supporting youth and young adults in Windham County beyond Youth Services’ clinical and restorative justice offerings.

Grove supervises staff responsible for services related to therapeutic case management; youth experiencing homelessness, couch surfing, in shelter housing, or transitional living; and youth transitioning from foster care. In addition, Grove’s team implements life skills and health education and a youth-led business.

Grove will also maintain ongoing communications with community partners and collaborative partnerships with local schools, Department of Children & Families, and other community entities to accomplish the goals of Youth Services programs.


Autumn Moon Festival of China, Korea and Vietnam

Asian Cultural Center of Vermont (ACCVT) presents the 22nd annual Mid-Autumn Moon Festival (Zhongqiu Jie) which is celebrated in China, Korea, Vietnam and other places around the world. Celebrate the Autumn Moon Festival with crafts, songs, food, taiji, paper lanterns, Chinese exercises, the Korean rope tug and more. Hear the story of The Goddess of the Moon, Chang’e; the great archer Hou-Yi; and the Elixir of Immortality. Then watch the harvest moon rise. The celebration will start with a pot-luck (bring a dish to share). The Moon Festival will be held Saturday, September 10th, from 6:30 – 8:30 at the Kiwanis Shelter atop Memorial Park Drive, Brattleboro, VT.  All ages, free to the public, Rain or Shine. For more information call (802) 579-9088 or visit accvt.org. 


Dear Grandchild

A message to one’s grandchild, from their Opa (when they are old enough to understand, someday; Opa = Grandfather):

It is okay to be scared, to cry and, if need be, even to give up on something; just, whatever happens, never ever give up on either yourself or those whom you love most dearly.


“Here We Are” with Abby Jacobson

ABBY JACOBSON shares her story of growing up as a foster child and adoptee, giving us a real-life look into a search for family and identity.

Now, as an Adoption Consultant, she helps others find their way on the path.


Is Youth Services’ Helicopter Golf Ball Drop Raffle a Perfect Father’s Day Gift?

Youth Services’ Helicopter Golf Ball Drop, a hallmark of Youth Services’ Annual Golf Tournament, is a game of chance with incredible odds, according to Cathy Coonan, Chair of the Youth Services’ Board of Directors. Coonan described the $100 balls as a perfect gift for a Dad on Father’s Day, as no assembly is required and a $3000 cash pot putting a smile on anyone’s face.

Balls numbered 1-100 are purchased, Coonan said, loaded into a bucket and transported by helicopter over the 9th fairway at Brattleboro Country Club where they are dropped from a 20 feet height. The owner of the numbered ball which lands closest to the pin collects $3000 cash.


VFW Operation Homefront’s Shower Update

Brattleboro VFW Post #1034 was proud to be a drop off point for Operation Homefront’s Star Spangled Babies Shower. Operation Homefront is a nonprofit that assists low-income military families. The Vermont National Guard is facing its biggest deployment in 15 years, where service members are leaving behind their families for a year or longer. A lot of the family members left behind are new mothers and some are first-time mothers.


Rock the Boat by Sandglass Theater featured in this week’s Winter Sunshine Series

This week’s virtual Winter Sunshine Series features “Rock the Boat” by Sandglass Theater. It is a puppet show for young audiences that explores themes of migration, refugees, inclusion and respectful curiosity. It aims to get young audiences thinking about relocation, displacement and the interconnectedness of racial, climate and social justice. The production addresses attitudes about acceptance of those who come from other countries and cultures, and provides a narrative in which there is room for everyone in an inclusive society.


Town of Brattleboro Halloween Event & Safety Tips    

The Town of Brattleboro Recreation and Parks Department in collaboration with the Brooks Memorial Library is excited to announce we will be hosting drive-thru Trick-or-Treating at the Municipal Center Parking Lot.   This event will be held on Saturday October 31ST between 4:00 – 6:00 PM.   We ask all ghouls and goblins to enter the Municipal Center Parking Lot from the Grove Street entrance.  There will be a walk-up table for those who wish to walk vs drive.    A special thanks goes out to the Brattleboro Police and Fire Departments for their assistance with the event.


Boys & Girls Club Programming Update

The Boys & Girls Club Brattleboro will be operating two program sites this fall.

The Boys & Girls Club Brattleboro and Retreat Farm and are delighted to jointly deliver Kids Club, a licensed after school care program that supports healthy social-emotional development, outdoor skills, and respect for the planet and each other. This program begins September 8, 2020 and will operate at Retreat Farm. Learn more: https://bgcbrattleboro.com/programs/after-school-care/

The Boys & Girls Club of Brattleboro is making plans to reopen its doors on September 14. The Club has been closed since March due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.


Tanglewood Marionettes at Sandglass Theater March 7

Putney- Sandglass Theater’s Winter Sunshine Series continues its 13th season of puppet shows for young audiences with The Fairy Circus by Tanglewood Marionettes on Saturday, March 7th at 11am and 2pm. The Fairy Circus features over twenty turn-of-the-century-style trick puppets. The puppets dance, play instruments, juggle, contort, transform, and fly through the air with the greatest of ease, all to the best-loved music of favorite composers. This show is sure to delight young children and family audiences alike.


Go Home Tiny Monster by The Gottabees

The Gottabees are a Boston-based ensemble dedicated to creating inspirational, engaging, and empowering theater for family audiences. Our company is known internationally for uniting simple-but-elegant visual theater with astonishing technique.

After a sudden storm, Sylvie and her loving family of homespun creatures find themselves in need of a new home. Luckily, they have an audience full of people who can help them out! Go Home Tiny Monster is a wildly creative theatrical ode to a community’s generosity.


Santa Claus Coming To Brattleboro

The Brattleboro Recreation & Parks Department is pleased to announce: SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN! Saturday, December 7th, 2019. Santa Claus will arrive at the Gibson Aiken Center on Main Street at 1:00 p.m. on a tractor provided by The Robb Family Farm and escorted by the Police and Fire Departments.


Puppets in Paradise, Performances, Music, Food and Animals!

Puppets in Paradise, Sandglass Theater’s most beloved community event and biennial fundraiser, returns for its 8th edition. Now in partnership with Retreat Farm in Brattleboro, this year welcomes an exciting roster of first-time and returning performers including Joshua Holden, Chad Williams, Finn Campman, Liz Joyce, Faye Dupras, Rose Friedman and Justin Lander, Honey Goodenough, Cynthia Parker-Houghton, Eva Lansberry, Elena Day, Julia J. Slone and Sandglass co-founders Eric Bass and Ines Zeller Bass. Each company will perform four times and the puppet parade will process three times throughout each day. Please allow 2 hours to experience all of the shows.


The Princess, The Pirate and The Pea by Crabgrass Theatre

Sandglass Theater’s beloved Winter Sunshine series concludes the 12th season of family puppet shows with The Pirate, The Princess and The Pea by Crabgrass Puppet Theatre on Saturday March 30th at 11 am and 2 pm at Sandglass Theater.

A special event for the whole family, Winter Sunshine is an experience unique to this area. Munch on cookies and sip Burdick’s hot chocolate in the lobby as you peruse the Sandglass gift shop, and then cozy in the theater for a colorful adventure.


Caring For Our Own

Calling on Brattleboro community spirit!  A loyal friend to Brattleboro needs her people!

Teeth are not only for pretty.  They are an essential piece of our overall health.  Please, don’t let Laura Austan go without them!


Brattleboro Recreation & Parks Department Offers Mini Camp

The Brattleboro Recreation & Parks Department is pleased to announce they will be offering a Mini Camp for children 5-11 year old (maximum 25 participants).  The camp will be held on Wednesday – Friday, December 26th – 28th from 8:30am to 1:30 pm at the Gibson Aiken Center. (Children may stay for Open Gym at 1:30 which is also a supervised program).